Maximum-traction truck.



WALTER s. ADAMs, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNsYLvANIA, AssIGNoE To Patented May 31,1904.k

PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN A.- BRILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAXIMUM-TRACTION TRUCK.`

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No.,'761,347, dated May 31, 1904.

i Application tied september 16,1903. serai No. 173,473. mamada.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern: l

Be it known that I, WALTER S. ADAMS, 4a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Maximum- Traction Trucks, of which the following is a specilication. i The object of my invention is to Vprovide a truck of this class which will resiliently support the car-body at all times and whichwill be cheap, durable, and economical in operation. -This object I accomplish by providing the truck with longitudinally and transversely disposed semi-elliptic springs which support the `car-body and means. independent of the springs for connecting the car-body and truck to receive all stresses incident to the propulsion ofthe car.

For a more particular description of one embodiment of my invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which-` Figure 1 is aplan View of a'truck provided i tion of the arrows.

Throughout the various views similar ref- @rence characters designate similar partsijA The truck contains the usual driving-wheels 1, connected by the axle 2, and the trailing wheels 3 and their connecting-axle 4. The axles 2 and 4 terminate in axle-boxes 5 and 6, which slide in' pedestals 7 and 8 and support the same by the axle-box springs 9. The pedestals 7 and 8 are connected by chords 10, and arms 11 extend from the pedestals 7. Crossings 12 and 13 connect the arms 11 and chords 10,. respectively. As this structure is old and well known in the art, a more detailed description is believed to be unnecessary.

vA plate 14:, with-guides 15 and 16, is bolted to the crossing 12, and a similar plate'17, with guides 18 and 19, is secured to the crossing 13 or made integral therewith, as shown in Fig. 3. The functions of these guides will appear below.

Brackets 20 extend from the upper ends of the pedestals 7 over the chord 10, and these brackets are provided with upwardly-extending fingers 21 and 22, and between these iin-- gers, rest semi-elliptic springs 23, whichexc tend over the chord-10 and arms 11 and are above the springs 23 to allow of the attachment of a swivel-plate 245m, preferably of angleiron form, adapted to makea pivotal connection with the car-'body and also form an addi- `tional support therefor.

preferably placed with their concave sides uppermost, and at their ends shackles 25 are suspended, which engage andvsupport upwardlyarched and transversely-disposed semi-elliptic.

springs 26 and 27. The spring 26 is provided with a band 28, the upper surface of which forms a bearing 29, which engages a rub-plate 29, and is also provided witha projecting side having an enlarged head 30, that engages the guides 18 vand 19. This permits a free vertical movement of the band 28, but prohibits all other movement relative to the guides. A similar band 31 engages the spring 27 and has a bearing 32, which contacts with-a rub-plate 33, and projecting side with a head 34:, which engages the guides 15 and 16 to limit the spring to a vertical movement.

The crossing 12 is provided with a horizontally disposed guide 35, in which is' a curved slot 36, which is concentric with the ypivotal axis of the truck. This axis is placed close to the axle 2, as is customary in such structures. The walls of the slot 36 are engaged by a pin 37, which is ixedly connected by brackets 38 to the'sills 40 of the car-body. This structure permits the rigid framework of the truck to receive all stresses incident to the propulsion of the car and relieves the spring from all stresses except those incident to the resilient support of the carbody.

When the truck is in use and the weight'of the car-body comes thereon, the bearingplates 29 and 32 are pressed downwardly, causing the springs 26 and 27 to iatten and splay the lower ends of the shackles 25 out- The spr-ings 23 are Wardly. The stresses are then transmitted through these shackles 25 to the springs 23, so that the load is equally distributed over four springs,which cause the car-body t0 be resiliently supported at all times. The shackles 25 are preferably made of two parts and linked together, so that the springs 23 will be relieved of all tortional stresses.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many others may be made which employ its essential characteristics, and s0 I regard all structures as equivalents Which come within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In a truck or similar device, the combination of the Wheels, axles, axle-boxes, pedestals, chords, and crossings with longitudidinally-disposed semi-elliptic springs fixed to the pedestals and transversely-disposed semielliptic springs connecting said longitudinal springs.

2. In a truck or similar device, side frames, longitudinally-disposed semi-elliptic springs snpportedby said frames, and transverselydisposed semi-elliptic springs connecting said longitudinal springs andv adapted to support a car-body.

3. In a truck or similar device, side frames, longitudinally-disposed semi-elliptic springs resting thereon, semi -elliptic springs supported by and connecting said longitudinal springs, and means for causing said transverse springs to move in vertical planes.

LI. In a truck or similar device, side frames, longitudinally-disposed semi-elliptic springs secured thereto, transversely-disposed semielliptic springs connected by said longitudinal springs and adapted to support a carbody, a crossing, and means adapted to connect a car-body With said crossing.

5. In a truck or similar device, side frames, longitudinally-disposed semiselliptic springs supported by said side frames, means 'lor connecting the ends ot' said springs, and bands for inelosing parts of said springs and coperating with guides on the car-body.

6. In a truck or similar device, side frames with brackets protruding therefrom, semielliptic springs secured in said brackets, and means connecting the ends oi said sen1i-olliptic springs.

7. In a truck or similar device, side frames With brackets protruding therefrom, a longitudinally-disposed semi-elliptic spring held by said brackets, a band on said spring, and a guide cooperating with said band.

Signed in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this 27th day ol August, 1903.

IVALTER S. ADAM S.

Witnesses:

H. A. HEULING, TERRENCE McCUsknR. 

